Egg hunts shelling out Easter fun around Cherokee County

Opportunities to find the perfect egg will be in large abundance this weekend, as three county entities host Easter egg hunts. Looking for the Easter bunny might be an arduous task for local children, but fortunately the search for their share of eggs should be much easier this weekend.

At least three county entities are hosting Easter egg hunts Saturday, shelling out an abundance of fun and candies for youngsters of all ages to enjoy.

First up will be Limestone College, which is hosting its community egg hunt on its front lawn beginning at 10 a.m. More than 2,000 Easter eggs will be spread in that area of the campus, allowing children from preschool to fifth grade to fill their baskets aplenty. In addition, a free book will be given to every child participating.

Beginning at 1 p.m., Encounter Church — formerly Restoration Church of Gaffney — will hold its annual egg hunt, the largest in Cherokee County. Each year, thousands of children and their parents scatter throughout the church’s expansive lawn searching for colorful eggs littering the lot.

For church pastor Joey Turner and members of the Encounter congregation, it is another means for the Gaffney place of worship to help introduce those lost to Jesus Christ.

“Our goal is to encounter people wherever they are in life; Jesus had the ability to relate to people in that way,” Turner said. “That’s one reason we are geared up for the Easter egg hunt. Children and parents have an opportunity to have fun but also see who Jesus is. Hopefully we have a good turnout this year.”

For those looking for a unique twist to the egghunting experience, the Cherokee County Recreation Department is sponsoring a flashlight Easter egg hunt as the sun begins to fall Saturday. The festivities, taking place at the recreation department’s baseball sports complex will begin at 7:30 p.m. with youths ages 3-5, followed in 15- minute increments by those in age groups 6-8, and 9-12.

“This is part of something we’re seeking to incorporate as a district,” said Josh Blackwell of the Cherokee County Recreation Department. “Our hope is to be more than a place for baseball, softball and football. We want to be able to serve the community through a variety of recreational means, whether it be yard sales, baseball tours or trunk-or-treats. This Easter egg hunt is the start of a big thing we are doing.”

Following the flashlight Easter egg hunt, a showing of “It’s the EasterBeagle, Charlie Brown” and “Hop” will be projected on a large screen for a late-night movie at the recreation complex. “We encourage people to bring not only their flashlight, basket or bag forthe hunt, but also chairs and blankets for a good movie,” he said.